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The 2010/2011 festive season has taken its toll on road users. Authorities explained that over 1,100 people died and multiple others were injured in car crashes across the country. It is said that South Africa is in the top five of road accidents deaths in Africa and probably in the top ten in world.
During the month of December 2010, ER24 attended to over 2,970 accidents compared to 2,800 in 2009. The increase in road accidents is significantly lower than previous years.
Paramedics have noticed that accidents decreased in certain areas, but the severity of the accidents have increased. Unfortunately the exact reason for this cannot be pinpointed.
Major accidents included the incident in the south of Johannesburg near Lawley where three children were run over by a bakkie on 30 December. One child died on the scene and the other two later died in hospital.
Another incident that shocked the community was an incident in Delmas on 24 December where a grandmother and her grandchild were horrifically killed when a car struck them at an intersection on the R50.
It is believed that awareness campaigns are sometimes ignored by road users. One crash victim has stated: "I thought it would never happen to me", and paramedics have also heard: "It happens to other people". One thing is a given, no one is immune to road accidents and it can happen to anyone at any time, road users are therefore again urged to be vigilant on the road and stay calm.
For more road safety and general safety tips, visit the ER24 website.
Read more:
Travel health - on the road
Hit the road - safely
Over the legal limit?
